Parashat Miketz opens with Joseph, the 11th son of Jacob and the firstborn of Rachel – you know, the one with the cool coat everyone remembers! He goes from being forgotten in prison to standing in front of Pharaoh, interpreting dreams and basically reshaping the future of an entire region. It reads like an overnight transformation, but it’s really not. Joseph’s rise reminds us that most of the work that matters happens in the quiet, waaaaaaay before anyone sees it.

Going back to my PNW roots (literally and figuratively), I think about the aspen trees I grew up around. An aspen grove looks like a bunch of individual trees, but underground it’s actually one connected organism. Stay with me while I nerd out on trees for a second: The roots spread slowly and quietly for years before a new shoot ever breaks the surface. So when a tree pops up, it looks sudden, but it’s really all hidden growth and resilience that you don’t see.

It’s the same with our Community Builders. Our Residents, Hosts, Base Rabbis, PLR Facilitators, and so many others are balancing work or school, relationships, mental health, and the pressure to already be the person they’re still becoming. And still, they create these beautiful moments, whether it’s around Shabbat, a learning program, or even a social event that makes the people we serve feel connected and safe. We see the program. We don’t always see everything it took to make it possible.

Miketz reminds us that growth isn’t usually instantaneous. Joseph’s turning point didn’t come from having it all figured out. It came from showing up with what he had, using his gifts, and trusting (always the hardest part) that purpose takes its time. Parashat Miketz offers a kind of encouragement: Even when you feel tucked away, unsure about the future, or just burnt out, the work you’re doing matters. Real change usually builds quietly. It’s a reminder to stay steady and stay rooted like those aspens, because that’s where real change and growth begins.